Snøhetta has completed their colorful design of a fishing facility for the shipowner Holmøy Maritime. Located on a Norwegian archipelago, the 6,000 square meter address will allow the company to house all employees and facilities on the same site. With four distinctive buildings and a guest house for mid-shift breaks, the new Holmen Industrial Area is able to combine fish farming and processing functions with the company's corporate headquarters. 

The client, Holmøy Maritime, is the country's third-largest trawler operator. In order to ensure the company's high standards of quality are met, Snøhetta carefully considered its daily activities, tracking the fish handling process in order to achieve the best environment possible for employees and for production. While the warm colors of the building help make for a playful facility, the functional materials such as aluminum façade cladding and concrete floors safeguard for durability.

The color scheme for the multi-hued buildings was inspired by the changing light conditions and spectacular landscape of the area, which experiences a winter of complete darkness. In contrast, the warm, red, orange, yellow and green colors of the facility distinguish themselves from the grey sky, ocean and mountains of its surroundings. They also incorporate subtle wayfinding elements. 

Inside, open-plan space and large windows help bring in the maximum amount of daylight while providing jaw-dropping views overlooking the sea.  It also serves to reduce the need for artificial lighting and heating, contributing to a better indoor climate and a more sustainable building.

The design sees Snøhetta's mountain-honed sensibilities applied to consideration for the site's land and environment. Using surplus excavation, the architects incorporated a small park area with grass, local vegetation and birch trees to emphasize the aesthetics of its surroundings. The team also designed a marine pattern inspired by fish scales that adorns the building as well as the company's new logo and business cards, creating a cohesive brand identity for Holmøy Maritime.